It's not a common sight for Northamptonshire people, but something we could well see more of in future.

Traffic on the A43 northern bypass heading towards the junction 7 of the A14 found themselves in tailbacks soon after the Rockingham Road
roundabout.

As they got closer to the layby on the westbound carriageway they could see 'police slow' signs and a line of traffic cones forcing them into
one lane.

As drivers drew closer to the layby, some were called into the check point while others were waved on.

Those who were called in were greeted by around a dozen officers – half armed with weapons – who were checking for motoring offences such as driving without insurance and checking for outstanding warrants associated with vehicle registration numbers.

This isn't the way police would normally carry out a traffic check.

Typically, it would be done by uniformed officers with no sight of any weapons but yesterday's operation was also a training exercise for the firearms squad – the first of its kind in Northamptonshire.

The firearms team has recently come under the control of Chief
Superintendent Dean Smith as part of the Protective Services Command.

He said: "This operation is about making sure we can operate in a live environment. We are trying to raise the skill level of our officers and it raises awareness of the fact we are there and we can protect people."

The team was out for little more than a couple of hours but Insp Mark Lacey, who is directly responsible for the firearms officers, said they picked up some interesting results, with a number of drivers detected with no insurance.

The reaction from drivers was mixed. Few seemed phased by the presence of police officers armed with guns.

One man was running late for a scan at the hospital and wasn't overjoyed by the traffic jams it created, but most were simply intrigued by the sight of armed police and said they were reassured to see them out and about.

John Martin, who was travelling through the county to Coventry, said: "I knew it was just a road check but when I saw the officers with guns I thought, 'it's a little bit strict.'

"But I think there should be more of this kind of thing.

"If you've nothing to hide you shouldn't have anything to worry about."

Another driver, Charles Aldous, regularly uses the A43 bypass.

He said: "It was actually very comforting and it didn't worry me at all.

"It was reassuring to see armed police."


The 10 roles of new police command

Dean Smith's Protective Services Command is responsible for:

• Firearms




• Counter terrorism




• Domestic extremism




• Major crime




• Serious and organised crime




• Strategic road policing




• Critical incidents




• Public protection




• Contingency planning




• Public order

The Evening Telegraph will be running a series of special reports about each of the protective services this year.